About this tender
The MasterCraft XT22 is the build we point owners and programme managers towards when the brief is a crossover tow boat that does not ask you to choose between surf performance and capacity. At 6.8 metres on the waterline, a 2.59-metre beam, and seating rated for sixteen, the XT22 carries a serious crew and their kit without the layout compromises that narrow the field on shorter hulls. The Vector Drive configuration pushes the Ilmor 6.0L inboard aft, clearing the cabin floor and keeping weight distribution where it matters for clean wake shape.
MasterCraft has built the XT22 around the Gen 2 Surf System, a port-and-starboard tab arrangement on the transom that combines boat speed, ballast, and tab position to generate over 1,600 distinct wake profiles. That means you are not chasing one setting for one rider type - you can move from a beginner-friendly mellow wave to a steep, lip-heavy face within the same session, controlled from the touchscreen at the helm. The factory preset profiles and Autolaunch function reduce the setup time that costs you water time on a busy day.
The pickle-fork bow is the detail that separates the XT22 from the rest of the XT line. Where the XT21, XT23, and XT25 run conventional V-shaped bows, the XT22 uses a forked design that opens up the bow seating area materially, giving forward passengers proper foot-on-floor comfort rather than perching on a ledge. Combined with the optional convertible rear centre seat, flip-up transom seating, and SeaDek custom flooring throughout, the interior configuration is genuinely flexible for a 22-footer.
We would put the XT22 alongside comparable crossover tow boats from Nautique and Malibu at this length and capacity rating. The Ilmor engine partnership is worth noting: Ilmor backs the 6.0L unit with a seven-year, 1,000-hour factory warranty - the most comprehensive coverage offered in the production towboat category. For a programme where the boat will accumulate heavy seasonal hours, that warranty structure materially changes the running-cost calculation. The hull is fibreglass GRP throughout, CE Category C certified for coastal and inland navigation.
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Highlights
The four details we'd point out first to a captain who hasn't seen one on the water yet.
The XT22's forked bow design creates genuine seating room for forward passengers, with feet on the floor rather than wedged into a V-bow. Combined with the 2.59-metre beam and convertible interior seating options, the rated capacity of sixteen is usable in practice, not just on paper.
Port and starboard transom tabs combine with ballast positioning and boat speed to produce over 1,600 configurable wake shapes. Factory presets for ski, wakeboard, and surf modes reduce setup time at the start of a session, while manual tab control and Autolaunch allow fine-tuning for individual rider preferences.
The Ilmor 6.0L engine sits aft in a Vector Drive configuration, freeing the cabin floor and shifting ballast weight rearward for improved wake symmetry. Ilmor backs this unit with a seven-year, 1,000-hour factory warranty - the benchmark coverage figure in the production towboat segment.
The XT22 is compatible with MasterCraft's Z-series tower range, from the standard Z6 with clamping swivel board racks through to the hydraulic Z8, which folds at the push of a button. The folded height allows the boat to pass under low bridges and fit inside most standard boat garages without removing the tower.
The 2020 XT22 specifies 106 cubic feet of storage distributed from transom to bow, including a pass-through compartment under the observer seat and deep carpet-lined side compartments. SeaDek custom flooring is fitted throughout, reducing heat absorption underfoot and improving grip in wet conditions.
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The full specification
Specifications, prices, availability, and performance figures are supplied for guidance only and remain subject to confirmation by the yard, seller, broker, survey, contract, and final specification.
Questions, answered
Last call · Available
MasterCraft · Vonore, Tennessee, USA
Tell us about your yacht, your programme, and the missions XT22 needs to handle. We come back within 48 hours with a written assessment - fit for the brief, lead time, and trade-offs against alternatives in the same band.
Prefer to talk? +44 (0) 77180 88055 · other ways to reach us
From the library
